About Us

Our Values

It is our belief that all people of this world deserve to live in peace, free from oppression and guided by self-determination and respect. Further, we believe that all conflict, whether among individuals, groups or nations should be resolved by non-violent means.

Our Vision

We envision a world where all people have reached an understanding and level of skill that enables them to resolve conflict by non-violent means. All families, ethnic, racial and faith groups, and governmental and non-governmental entities are supported by a full array of peace-centered mediation options which are available to resolve differences non-violently.

Our Mission

The Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center is committed to working cooperatively with its members and other partners to advance peacemaking both locally and globally, build understanding and solidarity among people and support peacebuilding economies. Peacemaking is to bridge the gaps that divide people, gain understanding through education, encourage non-violent forms of problem solving and promote justice and peace. Solidarity is supporting people's efforts around the world to achieve their basic human needs, human rights, justice and a peaceful society. Peacebuilding economies are those that support conversion from war-making production and international trading in nuclear, chemical and traditional weaponry into peaceful, healthy, socially-useful and environmentally protective forms of economic producivity.

Commitment

The Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center is committed to working cooperatively with its members and other partners to advance peacemaking both locally and globally, build understanding and solidarity among people and support peacebuilding economies. Peacemaking is to bridge the gaps that divide people, gain understanding through education, encourage non-violent forms of problem solving and promote justice and peace. Solidarity is supporting people's efforts around the world to achieve their basic human needs, human rights, justice and a peaceful society. Peacebuilding economies are those that support conversion from war-making production and international trading in nuclear, chemical and traditional weaponry into peaceful, healthy, socially-useful and environmentally protective forms of economic producivity. We envision a world where all people have reached an understanding and level of skill that enables them to resolve conflict by non-violent means. All families, ethnic, racial and faith groups, and governmental and non-governmental entities are supported by a full array of peace-centered mediation options which are available to resolve differences non-violently.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center Monthly Trustee Meeting

Potluck Supper – 6:15 pm Meeting – 7:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse 108 School St. Bennington

Monthly meeting and potluck supper. Supper begins at 6:15pm and the business meeting begins at 7pm. Please contact us for the current agenda. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Vigil for Peace

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

At the Four Corners in Bennington

Join us for our monthly Vigil for Peace Sponsored by the Greater Bennington Peace & Justice Center

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Vigil for Peace

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

At the Four Corners in Bennington

Join us for our monthly Vigil for Peace Sponsored by the Greater Bennington Peace & Justice Center

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center Monthly Trustee Meeting

Potluck Supper – 6:15 pm Meeting – 7:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse 108 School St. Bennington

Monthly meeting and potluck supper. Supper begins at 6:15pm and the business meeting begins at 7pm. Please contact us for the current agenda. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center Monthly Trustee Meeting

Potluck Supper – 6:15 pm Meeting – 7:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse 108 School St. Bennington

Monthly meeting and potluck supper. Supper begins at 6:15pm and the business meeting begins at 7pm. Please contact us for the current agenda. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Vigil for Peace

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

At the Four Corners in Bennington

Join us for our monthly Vigil for Peace Sponsored by the Greater Bennington Peace & Justice Center

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Vigil for Peace

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

At the Four Corners in Bennington

Join us for our monthly Vigil for Peace Sponsored by the Greater Bennington Peace & Justice Center

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center Monthly Trustee Meeting

Potluck Supper – 6:15 pm Meeting – 7:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse 108 School St. Bennington

Monthly meeting and potluck supper. Supper begins at 6:15pm and the business meeting begins at 7pm. Please contact us for the current agenda. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Our Values

It is our belief that all people of this world deserve to live in peace, free from oppression and guided by self-determination and respect. Further, we believe that all conflict, whether among individuals, groups or nations should be resolved by non-violent means.

Our Vision

We envision a world where all people have reached an understanding and level of skill that enables them to resolve conflict by non-violent means. All families, ethnic, racial and faith groups, and governmental and non-governmental entities are supported by a full array of peace-centered mediation options which are available to resolve differences non-violently.

Our Mission

The Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center is committed to working cooperatively with its members and other partners to advance peacemaking both locally and globally, build understanding and solidarity among people and support peacebuilding economies. Peacemaking is to bridge the gaps that divide people, gain understanding through education, encourage non-violent forms of problem solving and promote justice and peace. Solidarity is supporting people's efforts around the world to achieve their basic human needs, human rights, justice and a peaceful society. Peacebuilding economies are those that support conversion from war-making production and international trading in nuclear, chemical and traditional weaponry into peaceful, healthy, socially-useful and environmentally protective forms of economic producivity.

Commitment

The Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center is committed to working cooperatively with its members and other partners to advance peacemaking both locally and globally, build understanding and solidarity among people and support peacebuilding economies. Peacemaking is to bridge the gaps that divide people, gain understanding through education, encourage non-violent forms of problem solving and promote justice and peace. Solidarity is supporting people's efforts around the world to achieve their basic human needs, human rights, justice and a peaceful society. Peacebuilding economies are those that support conversion from war-making production and international trading in nuclear, chemical and traditional weaponry into peaceful, healthy, socially-useful and environmentally protective forms of economic producivity. We envision a world where all people have reached an understanding and level of skill that enables them to resolve conflict by non-violent means. All families, ethnic, racial and faith groups, and governmental and non-governmental entities are supported by a full array of peace-centered mediation options which are available to resolve differences non-violently.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Music, vigil to mark MLK Day

BENNINGTON — The Throwbacks band, Victoria Benkoski, Matt Edwards, Bennington County Community Chorus, the Strummin' Ukes of Bennington and a MAUHS Choral group will all join together for a night of music and song at Oldcastle Theatre at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 to celebrate Bennington's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Events will begin at 6 p.m. at the Four Corners in downtown Bennington with a candlelight vigil and singing led by David O'Brien. Folks will move to the theatre for cider and cookies, and to view an exhibit of posters created by MAU students of the Career Development Center to commemorate this special day. At 7 p.m. the music and singing will begin. During the festivities, students who have won awards in the Dr. King Poster Contest will be introduced and recognized. At the end of the night all of the musicians and the audience will join together in song. Sponsored by the Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center and the Greater Bennington Interfaith Council, the night was created to lift our spirits and stir hope in these challenging times, to bring light to our darkness. The Rev. Steve Dale and Jim Quinlan will lead the program. Oldcastle is located at 331 Main St., Bennington. MLK Vigil

Students reflect on King's words

BENNINGTON — Over the past few weeks, students of Betsey Kane at the Career Development Center have been learning about the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. They have been reading and exploring "Letters From A Birmingham Jail" and expressing their thoughts and feelings in posters to honor King. Nine students submitted their work in the contest sponsored by the Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center, and all of them will be on display in the Gallery at Oldcastle Theatre on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Lobby Gallery of the theater, before and during the King Celebration. Graphic artists in the competition included Lydia Boekholt, Kylee Frost, Chantel Goodhue, Avery Hickey, Anna Hogan, Tylor Dunican, Lauren Johnson and Alijah Jones. According to Dan Lucy of the Peace and Justice Center, third prize was won by Tylor Dunican, second prize was won by Lauren Johnson, and the grand prize poster was created by Alijah Jones. The winners and their teacher will be honored at the King Celebration Monday night at Oldcastle. The Throwbacks band, Victoria Benkoski, Matt Edwards, Bennington County Community Chorus, the Strummin' Ukes of Bennington and a MAUHS Choral group will perform during the celebration, which begins at 7 p.m.
MLK Student Posters

Sunday, November 10, 2019

"Talks of the Times: Exploring Critical Issues"

"Talks of the Times: Exploring Critical Issues," a series of presentations on important contemporary issues, begins Nov. 10 in Bennington. The first talk will be "Sorting the News From the Chaff" by Dr. Mark Timney of Keene State College. It is on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bennington, 108 School St. The program is free and open to the public. The series is largely funded by the Vermont Humanities Council and co-sponsored by the Greater Bennington Peace & Justice Center, Community College of Vermont, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Dr. Timney will examine he paradox that the Internet has made it both easier and harder to find “truth.” Almost everything we could ever want to know is available online, but how can we tell the good sources from the bad ones, discern fact from assumption, and distinguish “fake news” from the real thing?

Battle Day 2016
Battle Day 2016
Battle Day 2016
Mayfest 2017

Bennington's Sister City Project
Somotillo, Nicaragua

The Somotillo-Bennington County Sister City project is a not-for-profit, grassroots partnership to promote social and economic justice through alternative models of sustainable community development and activism.

History:

1988 First delegation from Bennington visits Somotillo in response to US sponsored Contra War

1990 PRC joins with 5 other sister city projects to form Sister City Consortium, which then hires a coordinator to work in Nicaragua

1991 Formation of PRC's partner in Somotillo, the Comision Social (Social Commission), which includes volunteers from various socio-political groups within the town with a view to strengthen reconciliation following the Contra War

1992 Recognition of Sister City by Town of Bennington

2001 PRC leaves the Consortium and establishes a direct link with Somotillo's Social Commission through e-mail. First Social Commission delegation visits Bennington

2004 First High School delegation from Bennington visits Somotillo

2007 The Second delegation from the high school Interact Club visits Somotillo.

Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center

Email
info@greaterbenningtonpeaceandjusticecenter.org

Address
Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center P.O. Box 1437 Bennington, VT 05201

1983 Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center founded

1983Actions related to Nuclear Freeze Movement

1983/4 "Bridges For Peace" Soviet citizens visit and hold forum in Bennington

1988 First delegation to Somotillo, Nicaragua in response to Cold War

1991 March on Washington & Peace vigils held at Four Corners in Bennington in response to Gulf War

1992 Cree/Inuit/Innu Native People tour Vermont (in reponse to Hydro-Quebec power plant)

1996 Puppet Workshop on conflict resolution

Public lecture on the International Women's Conference in Beijing

2001 Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center web site initiated in response to events of September 11

2001 Over 400 donated blankets from the community sent to Afghan refugees in collaboration with the AFSC

2001-2004 Ongoing Saturday peace vigils at Four Corners in Bennington

2002 Vermont Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Project led to the passing of anti-nuclear resolutions in three out of six towns in Bennington County

2002 vermontpeacetrain Action Committee formed

2002-2004 Community participation in anti-war demonstrations in Washington, DC and NYC

2003 Bread & Puppet Theater performance and community fundraising event at Bennington College

2003 Anti-War Demonstration against the war on Iraq in downtown Bennington led to the arrest of 12 community members who participated together in non-violent civil disobedience

2003 Community Peace Flag outreach project initiated

2005 Bread & Puppet Theater performance and community fundraising event at Bennington College

2001-2007 Regular community participation in anti-war demonstrations in Washington, DC and NYC

2007 Participated in Citizens Awareness Walk against nuclear power

  • Delegations to strengthen solidarity, to learn, work, teach
  • Scholarships enabling destitute students to attend public school
  • Scholarships to study computer technology
  • Material aid shipments to help the people of Somotillo by sharing needed school and office supplies, medical supplies and equipment, sports equipment, and clothing.
  • Community development projects to construct water pipe systems, dig and repair wells, build a children's nutrition center, school classrooms and a high risk pregnancy center (Sala Materna), gardening, reforestation, fruit tree and chicken project.
  • Revolving Loan Funds for pharmacy project and teachers & healthworkers' bicycle project, tricycle taxi project
  • Emergency aid following Hurricane Mitch
  • Pen Pals correspondence between area schools & Somotillo
  • The Rural Eyeglasses Project, an outgrowth of the Somotillo/Bennington Sister City Project
  • Installation of wells and latrines
  • Completion of neighborhood basketball court

All projects are funded by tax-deductible donations from individuals, churches, school groups, businesses and Rotary Clubs. Please send donations directly to The Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center.